Smart Camden Inn

Smart Camden Inn is halfway between the Mornington Crescent and Camden Town tube stations. During the weekends, Camden Town station gets very busy and is probably best avoided, but if you’re staying in Camden then business is all part of the experience.

One gripe is that it operates a fairly arbitrary pricing policy. Those who turn up on the day pay a fixed rate per night whereas those who book in advance can pay less or more than the fixed price. There is also a deposit for the key, which is also a deposit to ensure that you checkout on leaving day by 10 a.m. -– something which is easier said than done after a night out on the tiles in North London.

The staff can be very laid back -– checking in is very easy, even if you arrive a little earlier than expected, although they can also be strict about their rules. When they say breakfast finishes at 9 a.m., they mean it. They will come around and kick you out (while having a friendly chat at the same time of course).

The rooms are small and not well ventilated. The building as a whole is in a good state of repair. Although cleaners are seen walking around all the time it does not seem that they do much cleaning. The walls are thin, so noise travels through quite easily and can mean it is extraordinarily difficult to get a good night’s sleep. The beds are all bunkbeds and the mattresses are a little tatty and thin. There’s one toilet on each floor and three showers – unfortunately with not a lot of hot water after about 8:30 am. Breakfast is included but entails self-serve cornflakes and toast and unpredictable coffee.

The hostel is in a good location with easy access to the wonderful Camden Markets but is letdown when the staff get a little officious. While it is not possible to categorise this as a party hostel, the clientele who stay are party hostellers who tend to stay out late and make a lot of noise when they return in the early hours of the morning. For all its faults, Smart Inn is still ok. If you’re spending time in north London it makes sense to stay in north London rather than catch the tube from more central areas.

— Avis exclusif de Hostelz.com
November 2005